The flooring was watertight – “like a ship” – he explained, because the nonporous vinyl sheet flooring was heat welded when installed to create a seamless surface. And thanks to vinyl’s flexibility, the floor had “coved corners” – that is, the flooring curved up the walls. In addition to containing spills, coved corners keep dirt from collecting where the walls meet the floor.

For the hospital’s new wing completed last year, Deininger said he chose sheet vinyl flooring for all intensive care and operating rooms, utility rooms for storing both soiled and clean materials, and environmental services closets – “everywhere you don’t want seams that gather dirt.”

Staining is the biggest challenge to keeping floors clean in treatment areas, and vinyl flooring repels both stains and odors better than other materials, he said.

“Because vinyl flooring is nonporous, spills and water can be quickly mopped up,” notes Bill Freeman of the Resilient Floor Covering Institute, Rockville, MD. Moisture does not sink into the floor, where it can be a breeding ground for bacteria and mold. Freedman noted that vinyl is also preferred for flooring in medical facilities because it is resilient and resists indentation from rolling carts, beds, or standing equipment.